david i. backer
@schooldaves.bsky.social
associate prof of education policy. former high school teacher. education, ideology, policy, finance, climate, socialism. he/him. https://linktr.ee/davidibacker
I didn’t know about NYC’s pattern bargaining, interesting. www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/26/m...
November 30, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I didn’t know about NYC’s pattern bargaining, interesting. www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/26/m...
I wrote a book about school finance and socialism, how the structure of school money works and policies we deserve—not just to protect public schools but to make them as public as possible. thenewpress.org/books/as-pub...
November 27, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I wrote a book about school finance and socialism, how the structure of school money works and policies we deserve—not just to protect public schools but to make them as public as possible. thenewpress.org/books/as-pub...
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS lol thenewpress.org/books/as-pub...
November 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS lol thenewpress.org/books/as-pub...
5. The accounting number is 040, and through it we see all the things the DOE spent on in 2025:
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
5. The accounting number is 040, and through it we see all the things the DOE spent on in 2025:
4. But I'm here to look at school finance, so let’s look at the overall statement of activities for the whole city, which is the hundreds of billions. Education is about $37.5 billion. What’s in that number, specifically for the DOE?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
4. But I'm here to look at school finance, so let’s look at the overall statement of activities for the whole city, which is the hundreds of billions. Education is about $37.5 billion. What’s in that number, specifically for the DOE?
3. But there’s a veritable swarm of component units through which the city borrows and repays its debts, too many to list, divided into “blended” and “discretely presented”--Like, what’re all those lien trusts? What’s the Sales Tax Asset Receivable Corporation (STAR)?
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
3. But there’s a veritable swarm of component units through which the city borrows and repays its debts, too many to list, divided into “blended” and “discretely presented”--Like, what’re all those lien trusts? What’s the Sales Tax Asset Receivable Corporation (STAR)?
2. The Comptroller has reports for the School Construction Authority (how the city manages its school buildings), the Transitional Finance Authority (how the city borrows to finance its infrastructure needs), the Educational Construction Fund (a mixed-use bonding outlet that I’m interested in)...
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
2. The Comptroller has reports for the School Construction Authority (how the city manages its school buildings), the Transitional Finance Authority (how the city borrows to finance its infrastructure needs), the Educational Construction Fund (a mixed-use bonding outlet that I’m interested in)...
Also see Lander's opening letter on the city's audits viz. "debt-incurring power."
November 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Also see Lander's opening letter on the city's audits viz. "debt-incurring power."
Just gazing at this page and chart, have to get rid of the tab so I'm posting it here. comptroller.nyc.gov/services/fin...
November 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Just gazing at this page and chart, have to get rid of the tab so I'm posting it here. comptroller.nyc.gov/services/fin...
This is what I’ve been trying to say about green fiscal mutualism: stocks are seriously risky and bonds have a safer though somewhat smaller return. I bet a teacher pension asset allocation to local munis through green banks would be roughly the same as stocks with costs savings. on.ft.com/4peNStR
November 17, 2025 at 11:54 AM
This is what I’ve been trying to say about green fiscal mutualism: stocks are seriously risky and bonds have a safer though somewhat smaller return. I bet a teacher pension asset allocation to local munis through green banks would be roughly the same as stocks with costs savings. on.ft.com/4peNStR
Welcome to Sylvan Marceline Ronen-Backer, newest member of our family. Partner gave birth after many hours and he arrived on his due date 11/12/25. Everyone’s happy and healthy thankfully!
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Welcome to Sylvan Marceline Ronen-Backer, newest member of our family. Partner gave birth after many hours and he arrived on his due date 11/12/25. Everyone’s happy and healthy thankfully!
An important point about land use, rent, and wages:
November 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
An important point about land use, rent, and wages:
More on the dynamic between credits for consumption and points for production (schools would work on points, btw):
November 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
More on the dynamic between credits for consumption and points for production (schools would work on points, btw):
To be clear, here’s how he renders this distinction between points and credits
November 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
To be clear, here’s how he renders this distinction between points and credits
In Benanav’s framework for a multi-criterial economy (beyond mere profit), there’s a firewall between two kinds of currencies issued by the state that serve different purposes: credits and points. This allows for market exchange without private property or centralization.
November 9, 2025 at 3:57 PM
In Benanav’s framework for a multi-criterial economy (beyond mere profit), there’s a firewall between two kinds of currencies issued by the state that serve different purposes: credits and points. This allows for market exchange without private property or centralization.
For NYC friends, I’ll be at Fort Greene park talking about my book with an outdoor bookseller. Would love to see you!
November 7, 2025 at 1:49 PM
For NYC friends, I’ll be at Fort Greene park talking about my book with an outdoor bookseller. Would love to see you!
I'm going to be in conversation with Celina Su and members of PSC-CUNY and MORE-AFT on 12/10 at 6:30pm in CUNY's Skylight Lounge in Manhattan. We'll be talking all things school finance, public education, and organizing. Come by!
November 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I'm going to be in conversation with Celina Su and members of PSC-CUNY and MORE-AFT on 12/10 at 6:30pm in CUNY's Skylight Lounge in Manhattan. We'll be talking all things school finance, public education, and organizing. Come by!
Cool back and forth on a subreddit I started where ppl ask questions about school budgets. This one’s from Encinitas, CA.
October 31, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Cool back and forth on a subreddit I started where ppl ask questions about school budgets. This one’s from Encinitas, CA.
Mark your calendars! I’ll be in the Skylight Room at CUNY’s Graduate Center with members of PSC-CUNY and MORE-UFT talking about my book and Celina Su’s new book “Budget Justice,” on 12/10 at 6:30pm.
October 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Mark your calendars! I’ll be in the Skylight Room at CUNY’s Graduate Center with members of PSC-CUNY and MORE-UFT talking about my book and Celina Su’s new book “Budget Justice,” on 12/10 at 6:30pm.
The Cost of Toxic Masculinity: "In France, men represent 96% of those incarcerated, 84% of perpetrators of fatal road accidents, 86% of murder defendants, 97% of the perpetrators of sexual violence, this costs the state 95 billion euros yearly." www.babelio.com/livres/Peyta...
October 28, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The Cost of Toxic Masculinity: "In France, men represent 96% of those incarcerated, 84% of perpetrators of fatal road accidents, 86% of murder defendants, 97% of the perpetrators of sexual violence, this costs the state 95 billion euros yearly." www.babelio.com/livres/Peyta...
That’s *the* @aldasky.bsky.social with As Public As Possible, looking suave as ever.
October 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
That’s *the* @aldasky.bsky.social with As Public As Possible, looking suave as ever.
Somebody forwarded me this note from an indy bookseller in Canada, kinda wild that it hit my book.
October 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Somebody forwarded me this note from an indy bookseller in Canada, kinda wild that it hit my book.
Looks good—future of education in NYC
October 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Looks good—future of education in NYC
One of the first events for my book is happening with rank and file NJEA members in Orange, NJ.
October 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
One of the first events for my book is happening with rank and file NJEA members in Orange, NJ.